To split files Under linux Shell

Question

Input file.txt:

Start of test case:test1
a
b
c
Date is feb 12
Start of test case:test2
m
n
o
Date is feb 13
Start of test case:test3
x
y
z
Date is feb 14

Desired output files

test1.txt:

Start of test case:test1
a
b
c
Date is feb 12

test2.txt :

Start of test case:test2
m
n
o
Date is feb 13

test3.txt:

Start of test case:test3
x
y
z
Date is feb 14

Out of interest, why did you capitalize the words under and shell but not Linux? — , Feb 14 '17 at 13:49

Kusalananda · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-14T12:52:22.107

3

Use split:

$ split -l 5 file.txt test

This will create the three files testa, testb and testc, each with 5 consecutive lines from the file file.txt.

Alternatively, a solution in awk that writes to a new file whenever a new test case is found:

$ awk '/^Start of test case:/ { c++ } { print >sprintf("test%d.txt", c) }' file.txt

edited Feb 14 '17 at 12:52

answered Feb 14 '17 at 12:35

Kusalananda

Works based on OP Data = always between Start and Date you will have exactly 3 lines; Otherwise is messed up. – George Vasiliou Feb 14 '17 at 12:40
@GeorgeVasiliou And that's the info that we have available. – Kusalananda Feb 14 '17 at 12:41
@GeorgeVasiliou Alternative solution in `awk` which works around it added. – Kusalananda Feb 14 '17 at 12:47
Yes, i was trying to build such a solution . Much better and for sure a future reference. Thank you. – George Vasiliou Feb 14 '17 at 12:50
@GeorgeVasiliou It separates the sections by counting the lines that matches the pattern. For each match, the value of `c` is increased, which leads to generating a new filename. – Kusalananda Feb 14 '17 at 12:58

1 Answers1